Hustle For Love |COMPLETE| MaNan Fiction

52. The One Where I Thought It's Over

A/N : Hello readers! I have to say I'm kinda sad right now because I have completed this book from my side. I have been writing this for so long that I really don't know hoe to not write this plot every week :)

But, all things comes to an end eventually right? So we are really at the close! So here's the bomb - this is the second last chapter of this book! Yes, there is just one more chapter left & an Epilogue!

I hope you enjoy reading this, as much as you have so far! Happy Reading!

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24 Warren Street, Palm Cove, Cairns, Australia circa 2018

(Manik's Living Room, Poolside Villa)

Nandini Murthy

I was sitting on the couch and trying very hard to not bite my nails, I was apprehensive of the bomb Manik was going to be dropping tonight. We all were here, Appa, Soha, Cabir, Priyank & we were waiting for Manik; he had invited everyone for dinner & gone out at the last minute to apparently 'collect' some papers. Ayappa, please make everything go smoothly today!

"Did he mention anything at all, he was sounding really cryptic on the call" Soha spoke to me. I nodded my head in negative. I knew Manik was contemplating a sustainable middle ground for all of us, but he never told me what he had in mind. Honestly, I wasn't worried about how it would impact me, but no matter which way I toggled the options in my head, I didn't happen to find a middle path that'd keep everyone satisfied! It meant only one thing, Manik was going to disappoint someone tonight, and if that wasn't me, I was worried it would either be Rooh or Soha; and I wasn't sure how well they were going to accept that!

"Don't worry Soha beta, I am sure, Manik has thought of something that will work for all. Let's trust him?" Appa tried pacifying her too.

"Nandini, Manik won't hurt you again, I can assure you that" I heard Cabir whisper to me after a while & I looked at him & smiled reassuringly. A lot had happened between Manik and me since Cabir & I last spoke, so I could see why he worried about me feeling insecure. Cabir winked in a friendly manner in response.

"Thank God you're here beta, what took you so long?" Appa's voice from behind me, made me turn away from Cabir towards the door & I saw Manik had finally come back. He was in joggers and a tee, he was clutching what looked like legal docs. I wondered what they were, but Manik spoke soon garnering all our attention.

"Thanks for being here tonight, all of you. This is a big decision in my life & I didn't feel right about taking it without having all of you here for testimony" he spoke nonchalantly. I observed his face, it was vacant, it was devoid of emotions. Oh boy, this wasn't going to be good news! I glanced at Soha, she was looking as apprehensive, if not more.

"Manik, beta, I know this is quite a tricky.." Appa barely began in his pacifying tone, but Manik cut him mid way.

"Dad, please. I will do the talking first, today? This is important & pretty huge and I can't keep it in anymore. I just want you guys to hear me out first before reacting & please don't react spontaneously, give my proposal a real thought, okay?" pleaded Manik, looking at each of us. I gulped, but nodded nonetheless.

"As you all are aware by now, Soha wants to move to Sydney. I mean she is telling everyone that it is for work, which I believe it is, but where I contradict her is, in acknowledging that she is going away only for work - that there is no other reason that triggered her." Manik began slowly, I don't know about others but I was holding my breath.

"Soha, I know you will never acknowledge this, but you're leaving because of me; you are leaving because, somewhere, I have somehow managed to disappoint you monumentally. I'm sorry for hurting you Soha, but I'm not sorry for my actions. I was defending Nandini's love for me before you, that's how I hurt you - by choosing to trust her; and I will never apologize for that. However, I do acknowledge that in all these years, had you not been there for me, reaching out to me, keeping me safe, I'd probably not make it to this phase of my life where I can proudly hold Nandini's hand & say she is mine; I..I don't know how to say this, but I need you Soh. I have been fighting with myself all day thinking how to hold you back in my life, how to keep you right here, where you belong, but every road ultimately told me one thing, that if you need to go, I should let you go. I love you, Soh & only your happiness can be bigger for me than my need for you in my life. I don't want to take this decision as Manik Malhotra of the yesteryears & be selfish; so I decided to take this decision as the Manik Malhotra of today - the man you carefully curated & preserved for Nandini to find & this guy feels, if I love you, I should support you in whatever you want to do with your life. You were only twenty when you decided do the same with me, remember? You never asked me to stay back in S.P.A.C.E. and redeem myself; I made a fresh start, I became a new person & that made all the difference in the world for me. So, who am I to stop you from doing the same?" Manik whispered; his voice held immense pain & I knew separation from Soha wasn't going to be easy for him. They were so emotionally attached.